Letter: Just what is Gov. Walker doing?

Just what is Gov. Walker doing?

Recently, the governor chose to pass on the federal expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. At first glance, this seems to be a little perplexing. Here is what he is passing up, just to name a few:

1. Some 170,000 more people could have been added to BadgerCare, which is Wisconsin's Medicaid program. (Source: Journal Sentinel, Feb. 14)

2. The federal government would cover 100 percent for the first three years and 90 percent thereafter.

3. It would help hospitals and medical providers by reducing the cost of uncompensated care.

4. It would help businesses save a substantial amount of money in health care cost for their employees.

5. Wisconsin taxpayers would get back some of their federal tax money that otherwise will go to the states that accept the expansion.

Even Republican governors in seven other states that initially opposed the Affordable Care Act have seen the benefits of accepting expansion. That includes the governors of Ohio and Florida, who said that they cannot afford to pass up this opportunity.

Gov. Walker, however for whatever reason, has passed on this. One has to wonder with all the obvious benefits to this expansion, why would he make this decision? He says that it is because he is afraid that the federal government will renege on its pledge to fund the expansion at some point in the future. That may not be the real reason: We will found out in the next couple of years what the real reason is.

Ray A. Kalpinski

Advocate for AARP Wisconsin

Wisconsin Rapids

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Letter: Just what is Gov. Walker doing?

Recently, the governor chose to pass on the federal expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. At first glance, this seems to be a little perplexing. Here is what he is passing up, just to

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